Islam is the fastest
growing faith in the United States and has much to contribute to its quality
of life. Its contributions are not only in the areas civilization, science,
and technology, but also in faith, ethics, and family values. Islam is
a blessing for all people of understanding. It is not a problem, or a "new
enemy as some members of the mass media try to portray it as’. It is a
new friend and solution for the worst of our social problems here in America.

Salat, or prayer,
is an important Islamic practice through which a connection between the
faithful and Allah is cultivated. The fruit of this "cultivation" of prayer
is the freedom of Man from tension and stress. It is the vehicle which
moves the soul from egoism, temptation, and greed to the divine garden
of peace, love, and unity.

If society removes
itself from prayer, it becomes weak in its battle with Satan and can easily
be targeted with the most powerful of Satan’s weapons: alcohol, drugs,
illicit sex and crime. Salat is a powerful weapon to stop evil from invading
our souls. For, It is through prayer that we take refuge in Allah and submit
ourselves to him. Through it we recognize His Holiness and respect and
obey His absolute authority. Through prayers we celebrate our spiritual
freedoms and confidence in weathering the storms and tragedies of the material
life.

The Holy Quran and
hadith (sayings) of the Prophet Mohammad (5) and the Imams (A) are replete
with examples of the importance of the daily prayers. According to them,
true prayer is the source of salvation, success, peace and guidance. The
Holy Quran quotes the Prophet Abraham (A) as saying, "0 our Lord! surely
I have settled a part of my offspring in a valley unproductive of fruit
near Thy Sacred House, our Lord! that they may keep up prayer, (14:37).
Likewise, the Prophet Jesus (A) said, ". . . and He has enjoined on me
prayer and poor-rate so long as I live, " (19:31). And as Allah commanded
Prophet Moses (A), "... . make your houses places of worship and keep up
prayer and give good news to thebelievers"(l0:87).
There
is even a verse in the holy Quran in which Allah has told the holy Prophet
(S) to keep up the prayer even during times of danger (4:102-103).

My dear brother in
Islam, Kamyar Malek Hedayat, discusses in this book the basic structure
and conditions of the daily prayers. This book gives information not only
about the method, flow and logic of prayer, but also about the spirit of
prayer, and the confidence and commitment acquired through it. Over the
last six months, brother Kamyar has collected books on Islamic law from
myself to do research on the kinds and forms of Islamic prayers. After
reading the result of his research, I was very impressed by the clear way
in which the work was put together. A special thanks is in order to Dr.
M. Hedayat who kindly and generously paid for the printing expenses.

My friends: I call
upon you to pray more! Never say that you were so busy that you had no
time to make your daily appointment with Allah. You have so much to accomplish
that you have to make time to pray, to make peace with Allah, and to bless
your life in this world and the hereafter. As Imam ‘Ali (A) said, "There
is no action preferred by man that makes Satan more angry than the time
he sees men in the position of prostration before Allah."

May Allah Bless you.

Yours in Allah’s
love,

Mohammad ‘Ali Elahi10
January, 1996/19 Sha’ban, 1416

INTRODUCTION

here are five essentials
acts of faith in Islam. The first is Towheed: belief in the oneness and
indivisibility of Allah. This is the foundation of Islam, its guiding

principle and something
about which we are always aware. The second is Salat: worship and adoration
of Allah through prayer. This takes place five times a day, and at other
special times. The third is Saum: fasting, which is a practice of self-restraint,
an exercise of struggle against evil, and a way to become more sympathetic
to the less fortunate in our society. This occurs for one month every year.
The fourth is Zakah: the poor-alms which we give once a year to aid the
poor and to keep wealth from staying in the hands of a few. The final essential
act in Islam is Haij: the pilgrimage to the Ka’ba. The Ka’ba is the first
house of unity and faith, built by the prophet’s Abraham and Ishmael (peace
be upon them both). If one is financially able, one should attempt the
hajj at least once in a lifetime. Thus, we see that prayer is an important
and essential act in Islam which is second only to the faith which guides
us.

What is the purpose
of prayer? Allah is a living, active God, who listens to, is concerned
about, loves, and responds to His worshippers. He has said in the glorious
Quran W "And your Lord says, ‘Call on Me; I will answer your prayer. .
.‘ " (40: 60) And it is said: if you wish to
listen to Allah, read the Quran, and if you wish to speak to Him, recite
the prayer. Prayer, then, is first and foremost, a forms of communication
with our Creator.

The second purpose
of prayer is the halting of corruption from within. There are many laws
which govern our social behavior, and many punishments for
those who deviate from the law. But these laws, whether man-written or
divine, are only a reaction to the internal corruption which exists within.
That is why prayer is actually a first line of defense against crime and
deviancy. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (A)l has said, "Where there is prayer, there
is no corruption." Allah has also revealed in the Quran, "...establish
regular prayer: for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds, and
remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And
Allah know the (things) that you do." (29: 45)

The third purpose
of prayer is that it is a form of cleansing. Imam ‘Ali (A) states that,
"The Prophet Mohammad (S) (2) likened prayer with the hot bath situated
at the door of the person who bathes in it five times a day. Will then
any dirt remain on him?"

Allah has provided
two major means of communication between Himself and His worshipers: prayer
(salat) and supplication (du’a). Du'a is a more free and personal form
of communication. Prayer involves the canonical recitations as taught to
the holy Prophet Mohammad (S)(l) by Allah. It is the codified form of worship
and is said in Arabic.

There are six obligatory
prayers and many types of optional ones (cf. table 1). The six obligatory
ones are: 1. The 5 daily prayers (salat al-yomy), 2. Friday prayer (salat
al-Jumu ‘ah), 3. Prayer of Signs (salat al-ayat), 4. Prayer for circumambulation
(tawwaf) of the Ka’ba, 5. Compensation of the missed prayers of one’s father(3),
and, 6. Prayer for the dead(4) In this pamphlet, we will focus on the five
daily prayers.

THE
ELEMENTS OF PRAYERI.
Intention of prayer (Niyya)2. Standing for
prayer (Qiyam)3.
The pronouncement of Allaho Akbar (God is most great) before
prayer (Takbiratul Ehram)4.
Recitation
of chapters (suras) from the Quran (Qira’a)5. Bowing (Ruku’)6.
Two consecutive prostrations (Sajdatayn)7.
Prescribed recitations in Ruku’ and Sajdatayn (Dhikr)8. (Optional) Du’a
after the second Qira’a (Qunoot)9. Praises
said in the third and fourth rak’a’ (Tasbiha Arba’ah)10.
Bearing witness after sajdatayn (Tashahhud)11. Salutation (Salaam)12. Executing the
prayer in the prescribed order (Tartib)

The
FORM and CONTENT of PRAYERnote: all pictures
are located at the back of the book.

1.
Niyya

Niyya
is the intention of prayer By uttering the words of remembrance, one begins
to understand some of Allah’s many qualities, such as Al-Raheem, the most
Merciful. As one begins to understand Allah’s qualities, one’s gratitude,
devotion, and piety will increase. It is important to be purposeful and
focused when praying.

When
praying, you should understand which prayer you are praying, e.g. dusk
or evening, or noon. This is also part of the intention of prayer. However,
it is not necessary to verbalize it; simply be aware of it.

2.
Qiyam

Qiyam
is the act of standing for prayer when it is called. This is covered in
Appendix 7: Mustahaba, where the call to prayer is discussed.

3.
Takbiratul Ehram

Takbiratul
Ehram is the pronouncement of Allaho Akbar (God is most great),
which begins the prayer. Cf picture

· Raise both
hands up to the ears, with fingers drawn together. When your mind has become
focused, make the call of Allaho Akbar and your prayer has begun.· After the
takbiratul ehram, the hands are placed at the sides in a relaxed manner,
again, with the fingers drawn close together.

The prayer is in
one sense a communal act because the verses recited (cf. no. 4, qira’a)
are in the plural, and the best place to say our prayers is in a mosque.
Yet at the same time it is also a personal exercise, because (as with all
other acts in Islam), each person is responsible for his
own deeds.

4.
Qira a

Qira’a
is the portion of prayer which is a recitation of two chapters of the Quran.
The first chapter is always AlFateha, the opening chapter:

Bismillah
hir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful

Alhamdo Lillahi Rabbil
‘alameen
All praise is due to Allah, Lord and Sustainer of all creation

Arrahmannir Rahim
The most Beneficent, the most Merciful

Maliki yow maddeen
Lord of the Day of Judgment

Iyya kana ‘boddo
wa iyyakana sta ‘een
You are the One we worship, and the [only] One to whom we turn [for help])

Ihdinas siratal mostaqeem
Guide us to the straight path

Siratal ladhina an
‘amta ‘alahim
The path of those upon whom You have shown favor

Ghayril maghdhubi
‘alahim waladhaalleem
Not the path of those whom You have cursed, or the ones who have gone astray

· The second
most recited chapter, Surat Al-Ikhlas (Sura 112) is presented below, to
be said after AI-Fateha:

Bismillah hir Rahmanir
Rahim
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful

Qulho Allaho Ahad
[Oh Mohammad (S):] Say that Allah is One

Allahos Samad
Allah is independent of all beings and has no need of their help

Lain yaled walam
youlad
He begot none, nor was He begotten

Walam yakullaho kufuwan
ahad
And no creatures are alike to or comparable with Him

· Upon
completing qira’a, enter ruku’.

5.
Ruku’

Ruku’
is the bowing position which one enters after reciting two verses from
the Quran.

·
Bow until the finger tips touch and rest on the knees.

·
The remembrance (dhikr) recited in ruku’ is as follows:

Subhanan laheh, Subhanan laheh, Subhanan Lah
Glory be to Allah, Glory be to Allah, Glory be to Allah

·
After ruku’ stand up-right. Cf picture

6.
Sajdatayn

Sujood
is an act of humility out of love of Allah and hope of His pleasure. It
is the prostration which follows ruku’.

·
In sujood:

a.
the forehead is placed on a natural substance(5),

b.
both the palms and knees should touch the ground,

c.
the tips of the big toes should also touch the ground

·
As you go into prostration, pull the toes inward, with the heels projecting.·
The dhikr of sujood is the same as that of ruku’. Subhanan laheh, Subhanan
Iaheh, Subhanan Lah Glory be to Allah, (3 times)·
After completing the first sajda (prostration), sit up, with your body
resting on your calves.

·
Returns to sajda and repeats the dhikr, then return to the sitting position
again.

·
Now return to the standing position in which you started your prayer. This
is done by placing the palms of the hands on theground:

a.
Men pushing off so the knees come off the floor before the hands.

b.
Women pushing off so the hands come off the floor first.

7.
Tasbiha Arba’ah

Tasbiha
arba’ah is a recitation of two praises and two declarations concerning
Allah. It is said only in the third and fourth rak’a’s of prayer.

wa
la ilaha ii Lalah, wa Allaho Akbar
There is no deity except Allah, and Allah is the most Supreme One

8.
Tashahhud

Tashahhud
consists of the twin statements of witnessing. A salutation is also sent
to the progeny of the holy Prophet (S), who are his successors as the guardians
of Islam and as the models of his practice of Islam. Tashahhud represents
our belief in the unity and indivisibility of Allah, and the role of the
prophet Mohammad(S)
as His sincere and chosen messenger. The acknowledgment of his prophethood
acknowledges our belief in him as the seal of the prophets and the role
of the Quran as the final, revealed, error-free document for all mankind.
The witnessings are as follows:

Ash
hadu anlah ilaha illa Allah wah dahula sharikaleh
I witness that there is no deity except Allah, and He is without partner

wa
ash hadu aneh Mohammadan ‘abdahu wa rasulu
And I witness that Mohammad is His devoted servant and messenger

It
is hard to overestimate the divine reward in praying in congregation. The
prophet Mohammad (5) has stated that, "If two people form a group for prayer,
the thwab (divine rewards) for the both of them in each rak’a will be equal
to one hundred-fifty rak’a’s, and if they are three, the thwab of each
rak’a will be six hundred prayers . . . and
if they are more than ten, then if the skies were paper, and the seas ink,
and the trees all pens, and all men, jinn and angels were scribes, still
they couldn’t enumerate the amount of thawab in one rak’a.

Allah
has revealed in the Quran that when the Quran is being recited, the people
should listen quietly. Thus, when we are praying in congregation, we are
silent for all the prayers when the Quran is being recited (qira’a). During
the other sections: men should recite ruku’, qunoot, sajdatayn, tashahhud
and salaam, softly along with the prayer leader (main). In qunoot (c.f.
Appendix 7: Mustahaba), it is not necessary to repeat what the imam of
prayer is saying, because this is an optional and personal section. However,
most people recite along with the imam to preserve the cohesiveness and
euphony of the congregational prayer. Women should pray silently for all
congregational prayers.

ABLUTION
and IMPURITIES

A.
Purity (Tahira)

1.
Impurities (Nejasa)

Purity
(tahira) refers to the status of a person’s cleanliness in regards to prayer,
handling the Quran, and entering a mosque. There are two types of impurities
(nejasa): minor and major (c.f. table 2). The minor ones require ablution
(wudhu) for prayer, etc. The major impurities require bathing (ghusl)fo//owed
by wudhu. Until the impurity is removed, one cannot do above mentioned
things. Therefore, when women are experiencing their menstrual flow, they
neither say their prayers for those days nor make them up. After their
menstrual flow has ended, they may resume prayer, etc. after ghusl and
wudhu.

2.
ABLUTION

There are two types
of ablution: wudhu, for minor impurities (cf. table 2) and ghusl for major
impurities (also cf. table 2). The holy Quran, "0 you who believe! When
you prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands to
the elbows; rub your head (with water) and your feet to the ankles..."
(5: 6)

Wudhu:

1. Run your hands
under running water until wet.

2. Draw water into
your mouth from your right hand. Swish it around then spit it out.

3. Splash water on
your face, then, wipe your hand across your face. Use the full span of
your hand, from the tip of the middle finger to the wrist.

·
Make sure that the entire roundness of the face is covered. For men with
beards, it is sufficient for the beard to become wet.· Wrap the
hand under and around the chin.· Repeat
once (optional).

4. Cup the left hand
and pour water on the right arm from the elbow on down. Let it run down
on its own. This can be done a number of times.

·
From slightly above the elbow, with your hand still cupped, pull your hand
down to the wrist. Repeat until all areas of the arm, front and back (from
the elbow on down), have become wet.· Wipe the
palm of the left hand over the back of the right hand so the back of the
fingers also become wet.· Repeat
for the left arm with the right hand.· Men: Pour
water on the outside of the arm (e.g. with the palm face-down).·
Women: Pour water on the inside of the arm (e.g. with the palm face-up).

5. Without
wetting your hands, draw your right hand, with a width of three fingers
or more, from the center of your head down to the forehead.

6.
Draw the right hand over the right foot from the toes to the ankle with
a width of three fingers or more.

·
Repeat for left foot.

Ghusl:

·
Submerse oneself completely from head to toe in clean water.OR·
Wash the head and neck. Then wash the right side of the body, followed
by the left.·
Be sure to wash the entire area of your private parts each time.·
If the water available is scant, it is sufficient after washing the head
and neck to wipe the right, then left half of the body with a wet clothe
or towel.

Dry
ablution (Tayyamum)

Tayyamum
is a substitute for wudhu or ghusl. Sometimes we find our selves in a situation
in which we do not have access to water, and we have entered a state of
ritual impurity. For situations like these, Allah, the Wise and Compassionate
has commanded (continued from Chapter 5, verse 6), ". . . If you are in
a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body, but if you are ill
or on a journey, or one of you has come from offices of nature, or have
been in contact with women, and you find no water, then take for yourselves
clean sand or earth and rub therewith your faces and hands, Allah does
not wish to place on you difficulty, but to make you clean and to complete
His favor to you, that you may be grateful. "(5: 6)

We can conclude from
this verse that if your are traveling and no water is to be found, our
you are ill and cannot perform ghusl, tayyamum is permissible. If no water
is available and you feel that your prayers will be late (c.f. Appendix
4: Late Prayers) before water if found, it is also sufficient to do tayyamum.

·
Rub the palm of your right hand on clean soil, sand, or stone.· Draw it
across your forehead.· Rub your
palms again on the soil, ect.· Draw the
left palm across the back of the right hand.· Draw the
right palm across the back of the left hand.

PUTTING
IT ALL TOGETHER

To love Allah, to
want to praise Him and follow His religion is a part of every human being’s
nature. At the time that Allah, Great be His Might, created the essence
of mankind, the Quran says, 0 "... He
made them bear witness against their own souls:

‘Am
I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes! we bear witness’ Lest you should say
on the day of resurrection: ‘Surely we were heedless of this. '"
(7:172).
Similarly, we have a desire to express our love for our Lord. But the specific
expressions take time and patience to be mastered. Allah says, 0 "0 you
who believe, seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah
is with the patient. (2: 153) To this degree, Imam ‘Ali (A) the second
Imam said, "Pledge yourself with prayer and remain steady on it. Offer
prayer as much as possible and seek nearness (of Allah) through it, because
it is an obligation on the believers. Have you not heard the reply of the
people of Hell when they were asked, "What has brought you to hell?" They
shall say, "We were not of those who offered regular prayers." Certainly
prayer drops out sins like the dropping of leaves (from trees) and removes
them as ropes are removed from the necks of cattle."

The
virtues of prayer cannot be stressed enough. It is one of the most basic
thing in Islam, yet one of the hardest to fully master. It is natural to
be distracted, or drift off into thought in the middle of prayer. It is
essential that you continue your prayer until the end. Allah, the Beneficent
and All-Knowing, has stated in the glorious Quran, "And establish regular
prayers at the two ends of the day, and at the approaches of the night;
for those things that are good remove those that are evil: be that the
word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord)! And be steadfast
in patience; for truly Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous
to perish. "(11:114-115)

If
you are having difficulty memorizing the form or content of the prayers,
pray with at least one other person who is experienced in the correct form
of prayer. Better yet, go to the mosque and pray in congregation until
you feel that you have mastered it. Simply listening to the imam, and following
his movements is sufficient until you have become familiar with the prayer.
Once you have mastered it, a world of sublime peace, and hours of conversation
with your Lord lay ahead.

Appendix
1: CLOTHING and CLEANLINESS

Personal hygiene
and appearance are virtues in Islam. There is a saying by the prophet Mohammad
(S) which says, "Allah is Beauty, and Allah loves the beautiful." It was
encouraged 1400 years ago to shower often, especially on Fridays. The holy
Prophet (5) once said, "I would have made brushing teeth obligatory on
my people before every prayer, but I feared that it would be an undue hardship
on them." Consider how you dress when you want to present yourself in front
of judges and presidents. You choose your best clothes. It is no different
when we stand before Allah for our prayers. For He (glory be to Him) is
higher than any official on earth, yet He listens to us any time day or
night without an appointment.

There are a few general
and specific points to be noted about cleanliness and clothing worn for
prayer:

1. CLEANLINESS (Tahira)

If your clothes become
stained with any of the items listed in table two, you should rinse the
stained area at least twice under tap water, or remove them for prayer
and wear something else. The clothes, should be washed in due course.

Part of the cleanliness
in Islam involves cleaning ourselves with water after going to the bathroom
due to the impurity of urtne and stool (c.f. table 2). After urination,
pour clean water on the urethral orifice in order to properly cleanse that
area before prayer. Your prayer will be incorrect if this is not done.

2.
CLOTHING (Satr)

MEN: When praying
in public, it is required (wajeb) to be covered from the navel to the knee.
When praying in private, it is sufficient to have the privates covered.
However, it should be stressed again that it is inustahab (highly recommended)
to wear clean, modest clothing at all times. When you are at the mosque,
it is better to wear long pants and a long- or short-sleeved shirt.

WOMEN:
When a women is praying, she should have her entire body covered except
the roundness of her face (the hair should not show), hands and
feet. There is no single correct way for a woman to dress modestly in Islam.
Modest clothing is more a reflection of cultural traditions than ofjurisprudence.

When a woman is outside
the house or with non-familial men she should generally follow
the guidelines above.

Note:
many of the scholars of Islam have stated that for precaution, a some type
of outer covering, like a rain coat, or loosely fitting clothes should
be worn so that her hips and bosom are not apparent in public. This is
more preferable than simply wearing ordinary (and possibly revealing) clothes
with a hejab.

Hejab
(generally) refers to a head scarf. There are many ways for a woman to
don the hejab. One way is to fold a medium- to large-sized head scarf by
the corners, forming a triangle. This is centered on the head, and a clip,
or safety pin is inserted under the chin to hold in place. A variation
on the first way is to place the head scarf on at an angle and bring the
longer end up to the apex of the head, where it is pinned, for a snugger
fit.

Appendix
2: DIRECTION and TIMES of PRAYER

A.
DIRECTION (Qiblah)All Muslims, the
world throughout, pray towards Mecca, Saudi Arabia when they say their
five daily prayers. Recall that in the first sura of the Quran, Al-Fateha,
we ask Allah to "guide us to the straight path" (Ihdinas siratal inostaqeein).
When we set out upon this path of Islam, we choose for ourselves a destination:

Allah, and His pleasure.
We choose for ourselves a guide: the beloved Prophet Mohammad (S). We look
for signposts along the way: the righteous and pure Imams of his Ahl al-Bayt
(A) and the Holy Quran. Finally, we choose for ourselves a direction (qiblah):
the Ka’ba. The Ka’ba is the House of Monotheism built by the prophets Abraham
and Ishmael (peace be upon them both) to honor Allah, and Allah only, in
worship and dedication. Mecca is the birthplace of the final revelation
of Allah, and the birthplace of the final messenger of Allah. By facing
the Ka’ba, we are facing up to the Abrahamic struggle of sacrificing everything
and all to be in peace and submission to our Lord.

Naturally, the qiblah
will vary depending on what part of the world you are in.

·
United States: the general direction is North-East.·
Metropolitan-Detroit: 52 degrees North-East.

If you
are not sure about what the qiblah is in your area, check with your local
mosque. If a mosque is not currently in your area, a special compass can
be purchased through mail-order catalogues and many other areas, which
points towards the qiblah wherever you are in the world.

B.
PRAYER TIMESThe best time to
say your prayers is at the earliest time permissible for that prayer. The
Prophet Mohammad (5) was always adamant about being on time for prayer.
One of his wives, Aisha reports that, "The Prophet of Allah (S) would be
speaking to us, and when the time for prayer came, the behavior
of the Prophet (5) would change. It was as if he didn’t know us and we
him; he would stop whatever he was doing and go for prayer.""

Your
area mosque normally has a listing of the prayer times for your area. If
such a listing is not available in your area, simply check the times of
sunrise and dusk in your local newspaper. The time of sunrise tells you
the latest moment that the fajr (morning) prayer can be said. The dusk
time (plus eighteen minutes) tells you the earliest time that your maghrib
(dusk) prayer can be said. These times also supply you ample margin to
say your dhuhr (noon), ‘asr (afternoon) and esha’ (evening) prayers. The
precise definitions and determinations of the various times of prayer are
described below for those interested..

Morning
prayer: The morning prayer is to be said between dawn and sunrise. "False
dawn" is the moment when a column of whiteness rises upward from the eastern
horizon. "True dawn" is when this column of whiteness spreads across the
horizon. This is the best time for fajr prayer. When the sun begins to
rise above the eastern horizon, the time for fajr prayer has past. In general,
true dawn begins about 80 minutes before sunrise.

Noon
and Afternoon prayers: If you place a long, straight object on steady ground,
as the sun rises in the east, it will cast a long west-bound shadow. As
the sun rises, the shadow will decrease in length and move eastward.
Noon is the moment that the sun has reached the highest point in the sky.
After that, the shadow of the pole will begin to extend eastward as the
sun begins to move towards the western horizon. The time of the noon and
afternoon prayers, then, is from the time that the shadows of objects begin
to point eastward until dusk.

Dusk and Evening
prayers: The time for maghrib and esha’ prayers is from when the redness
in the eastern sky has subsided after dusk until midnight. "
We
wait for approximately eighteen minutes after the stated time of dusk.
This is done to ensure that we do not say our evening prayers too early
due to variations in the time of dusk throughout a time zone. Midnight
is the last moment that the two evening prayers can be said and still be
considered to be punctual.

Midnight
is determined by calculating the time between dusk and dawn, then halving
it. This is added to the time of dusk, giving you the precise moment of
midnight.

Appendix
3: PLACES of PRAYER

The best place for
prayer is in a mosque. If you live in the neighborhood of a mosque, it
is highly desirable to attend group prayer when it is held. Like the Friday
prayer (salat al-Jumuiah) it helps create cohesiveness for the community
and serves as a forum for discussion, contacts and the like. You will often
find the regular attendees of communal prayer to be knowledgeable and eager
to answer any questions you might have about prayer and Islam in general.

If a mosque is not
is your area, or you are not able to attend communal prayer, it is suitable
to pray in your house. It is recommended that a particular room, or corner
of a room be set aside for prayer only. This way, the only association
you have with that environment is one of meditation, peace, and devotion
to Allah.

Any figurines, busts,
or other sculpted items of animals or humans should not be in your line
of sight of the qiblah. This is so the worshippers of Allah never return
to idol worship again or anything resembling it.

If possible, do not
pray in front of an open door.

The place in which
you choose to pray should be level and solid (e.g. praying on a mattress,
or on tall grass is not recommended).

Appendix
4: LATE PRAYERS (Qadha)

Occasionally you
may find that you are in a circumstance where it simply is not possible
to say your prayers on time. It is still necessary to say these prayers
to "balance your account" with Allah. Late prayers (qadha) are said like
regular prayers, except that the niyyeh (intention) is one of making up
a missed prayer by praying a "qadha" prayer.

Appendix
5: PRAYERS of a TRAVELER (Qasr)

Allah does not wish
to make the life of His worshippers unduly hard. That is why, when you
traveling, all prayers are shortened to two rak’a’s (except the maghrib
prayer, which remains three rak’a’s). There are a few provisions for determining
when you are considered a traveler:

·
Your round-trip journey is more than 28 miles (25.5 kin).·
Traveling, or traveling to a destination is not part of your daily work.
A traveling salesman, for example, or an airline pilot would say full prayers.
Likewise, a person who must commute fourteen miles or more to work or school
would also say complete prayers.·
You do not own a house or apartment in the place to where you are going,
In which case, it would be considered as a second home, and complete prayers
are said.·
You are staying in a locale for less than 10 days. If you are traveling
to a place more than fourteen miles away, and you know that you will be
staying there for ten days or more, on the way there and back you should
shorten your prayers.·
You must have or make the niyyeh (intention) of traveling a total of 28
miles. If you leave your house and do not know how far you must go to obtain
something, you should say complete prayers if you stop along the way.·
The purpose of the trip should not be to commit some haraain (forbidden)
act like theft, or adultery, in which case, full prayers would be said.·
The purpose of the trip is not to go hunting for sport, in which case,
full prayers would be said.

It should
be noted that qasr is wajeb (required). That is to say, if a person who
is traveling and meets the above requirements says his prayers in full,
his prayers are incorrect and will not be accepted. For, he will have gone
against the will of Allah.

Appendix
6: FRIDAY PRAYER (Salat al-Jumuia)

Although it is emphasized
for all prayers to be said in congregation and if possible in a mosque
(ma.jed), there is particular emphasis on Friday prayer. In the holy Quran,
Allah has commanded, "0 you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to
prayer on Friday, hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah and leave
off business; that is best for you f you but knew!" (62: 9). Attendance
at Friday prayer is such a sign a person’s commitment to and sincerity
in Islam, that Muslim’s in the Prophet Mohammad’s (5) day would shun social
contact and the business of those who failed to attend without a legitimate
reason.

Friday prayer has
many purposes. It is first and foremost a time for all the Muslims of a
locale to gather together and to see each other. It provides an opportunity
strengthen social ties and solidarity. It is also a time for extra devotion,
praise and remembrance of Allah. Friday prayer is required for men(6),
and optional for women.

The first Friday
prayer was held by the Prophet Mohammad (5) when he had migrated from Mecca
to Medina. Where the people had gathered and he gave two speeches. Each
speech is counted as one rak’a, so in place of the dhur (noon) prayer of
four rak’a’s, they prayed two.

Friday prayer is
only two rak’a’s. It is, however, encouraged to say the noon prayer as
well(7). The Friday prayer also has a special form in addition to its particular
length:

NOTE: The ‘Asr (afternoon)
prayer must still be said at its proper time in the usual
way (e.g. 4 rak’a’s).

Appendix
7: MUSTAHABA

The inustahab (highly
encouraged) recitations, positions and du’a may be attempted after you
have acquired an ease and familiarity with the basics of prayer. Do not
feel a rush to learn the items presented below. It may help to read them
over, then attend communal prayer to observe how others say or do them.
With time they will become as familiar as the prayer itself, en sha Allah
(if Allah wills).

NOTE: After every
act, and between the two prostrations, it is mustahab to say takbir: Allaho
Akbar.

1. Adhan and Iqama

Adhan (A) is the
general call for congregational prayer. It is usually called five minutes
before prayer in a voice loud enough to be heard by all the people of a
locale. It allows people to finish up what ever work they are doing and
to perform their ablutions (ritual purifications). Adhan is longer and
more melodious than the iqama.

Iqama (I) is the
specific call to prayer. This is said both in congregational prayer and
in individual prayer (where it is optional). It is shorter than the adhan
and is said in a speaking voice. In the case of individual prayer, it is
only necessary to call the iqama.

The adhan and iqaina
have the same content with different repetitions of certain of the lines
called. They are as follows:

CALL TO PRAYER (
No. of times called for Adhan & Iqama)

Allaho Akbar 42
Allah is most great and beyond descriptionAsh hadu an/ah il
Laha il Allah 22
I witness that there is no deity besides AllahAsh hadu anna Mohammaden
rasul a'llah (s) 22
I witness that Mohammad is the prophet of AllahHeyya,ala ssalat
22
Hasten to prayerHeyya’ a/al falah
22
Hasten to the rewarding deedHeyya’ alal khayril
‘amal 22
Hasten to the best of actsQadqa matis salat
02
Rise for prayerAllahu Akbar 22
Allah is the most great and beyond descriptionLa illah ilAllah
21
There is no deity except Allah

2. Qira’aAfter completing
Al-Fateha, it is mustahab to say (silently):

Alhamdo Lillahi Rabbil
‘alameen
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation

3.Ruku’While
in ruku’, it is mustahab for men to have:

a. the knees
pushed back,b. the back flat,
with the neck out-stretched and in line with the back,c.
the gaze directed towards the feet.

For women
it is mustahab to have:

a.
the finger tips slightly higher than the knees,b.
the knees slightly flexed,c.
the gaze directed towards the feet.

After
dhikr, it is mustahab to say salawat (send greetings to the prophet and
his progeny):Allahuina
salli ‘ala Mohaininadan wa ‘aleh Mohainmad Oh Allah, send Your blessings
and peace upon Mohammad (s) and his progenyUpon
standing, it is mustahab to say:Saini
‘Allah huliinan hainidehAllah
hears those who praise Him

4.
SajdataynIt
is mustahab for women to:

a.
place their elbows and stomach on the ground,b.
bring their arms in towards their body

Men should
not do this.

It
is mustahab to pause for a moment with the hands resting on the thighs,
the fingers drawn together and ask for forgiveness. The Prophet (s)
has said, "Whoever repents of sin is like the one who has never committed
it." This can be done by saying:

Bihow Lilahi wa qowwatehi aquino wa aqud
With the help and strength of Allah I sit and stand

5.
Tashahhud

·
Before tashahhud it is mustahab to say Alhaindo Lilah (All praise is due
to Allah).·
After tashahhud it is mustahab to send another salawat.·
After the salawat it is mustahab to pray for the intercession of the Prophet
on the day of judgment:

Wa
taqqubal she fa’ atahu warfa’ darajatahu
And accept his intercession and raise his rank

6.
Qunoot

Qunoot
is a du’a (personal supplication) within the prayer. It is said after the
qira’a of the second rak’a of all required and mustahab prayers. Any type
of request may be made during qunoot in any language. There are a number
of standard du’as in Arabic which are said during congregational prayer.
There is also a specific way in which the hands are held.

The
hands are brought together with the palms facing upward. The following
may be recited while looking into one’s palms:

La
ilaha il Lalahul Haleeinul Kareein
There is no deity but Allah, the Forbearing and Generous

La ilaha il Lalahul
Aliyul Adheem
There is no deity but Allah, the Great and Elevated in rank

Rabbana awtenafedonya
hassana
Oh our Lord and Sustainer, give us good in this world

wafil akhiratee hassana
and good in the next world

wa ghina adhabin
nar
and keep us away from the fire [of hell]

Bir rahinatika ya
ar Hainar ra Hameen
Have mercy on me, You who are the most Merciful of the Merciful ones

·
Qunoot is usually followed by takbir, then ruku’.

7.
Reading the Quran before Prayer

Often times, reading
the Quran before prayer can help focus your thoughts on Allah, His Majesty
and Mercy, and the multitude of signs which He has placed for us. Allah
in the Quran says, C "Establish regular prayers: at the sun ‘s decline
until the darkness cf night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the
prayer and reading in the morning carly their testimony." (17:78)

2.
The abbreviation (5) is short for the Arabic "Sall Allaho ‘alayhe wa alehi
wa sallain," or, "May Allah send His blessings upon
him (i.e. Mohammad (5)) and his descendants (i.e. the House of the Prophet
(Ahl al-Bayt): ‘Ali (A), Fatema (A), Hasan (A), Hossein (A), and the other
nine Imams of his house).

3.
This is required of the first son only upon the death of his father. It
is optional for other sons. It is also optional for any son to make up
missed prayers of his mother. This only applies to parents who were Muslim.

4.
Salat al-ina}yet is prayed when the corpse has been ceremonially washed
and wrapped (i.e. before burial). Salat alwahshat is an optional prayer
which is prayed when the deceased is being buried.

5.
It
was the sunna (practice) of the holy Prophet Mohammad (5)
to pray directly on the earth, or on a mat made of the bark of a palm tree
(hasira). However, the general principle is that one should prostrate onto
the earth, or something which has grown out of the earth. Traditionally
a clay tablet (‘urs, torba) is used. However, a piece of paper, a leaf
(non-edible), grass, or a stone may be used. If none of these are available,
tar or asphalt may be used when praying in an area lacking herbage or exposed
earth.As
a last resort, one may use a segment of the garment one is wearing, or
one’s own hand.

6.
Friday prayer is required only if you are in your home town, and the mosque
where Friday prayer is held is within a six kilometer radius from your
home.

7.
Either the Friday or noon prayer is required on Friday. Friday prayer should
be said as close to the moment of noon as possible. Once the time has passed
into the after noon period, it is sufficient to just say the noon prayer
like on other days. If there is no organized Friday prayer in your area,
or there are not five people present (including the prayer leader), it
is enough to simply say the noon prayer as usual.

8.
It is permissible to follow this line with the following in both adhan
and iqama: Ash hadu anna Ainir al-Mu’ineneen, Aliyyan Wal4yullah. Which
means, "I witness that The Commander of the Faithful, ‘Ali (A), is the
(divinely appointed) vicergent of Allah. His rank is second only to that
of the Prophet Mohammad (S), and over whom no one had a greater right to
lead the people after the him." The Prophet (S) himself, according to both
Sunni and Shi’a books said, "I advise all those who believe in my prophethood
and confirm my message to obey ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib, for he who obeys him
obeys me . . . and he who hates
him hates me and he who hates me hates Allah, the Mighty and Glorious."
(Cf. for example, Tabarani’s Al-Kabir)